Interesting Chemistry Problem [Solved--Not So Interesting]

[cypherdtraitor]

Alright. I'm not a big fan of chemistry, but I ran into a heck-uv-a problem on a test. I missed it, lost 4 points.

Here is the interesting part: In class the next day, our teacher tried to balance it on the board, and something very odd happened.

At first, he balanced it as

5H{2}S+6IO{3}----&3I{2}+5S0{3}[2-]+3H{2}0+4H[+]

Then, he accidentally balanced it as

8H{2}S+10 I0{3}---&5I{2}+8SO{3}[2-]+6H{2}O+4H[+]

Note that subscripts are in {curls} and superscripts are in [boxes] The second compound is Iodine trioxide, the I just looks crappy in this font..

Now, in the context of the problem and the answer key, all we know is that when balanced, the hydrogen ions should come out to 4. Strangely, when we balanced oxidation states, I think he got that we were off by 6- charge on the right on both balanced equations, although looking at it now, the second equation looks to be off by 12-.

Can any of you balance this equation in terms of oxidation states?

[VorpalNeko]

The latter is not balanced. On the left side, I gather you meant IO₃⁻. If that's balanced, then the second reaction is unbalanced: -10 != 8(-2) + 4(+1). And yeah, iodate should be negatively charged.

[cypherdtraitor]

Thankyou so much! This means the equation was mis-printed on the test, and I might get points back!

Thanyou thankyou thankyou!

[img url="http://www.coolfreeimages.net/images/thankyou/thank_you_05.jpg"][/img]

And clearly I need to learn BBCOde again.